Former Top Gear presenter Chris Harris has delivered a glowing tribute to TikTok trainspotting sensation Francis Bourgeois, describing him as an "extraordinary human being" ahead of their collaborative new television series. The duo are set to star in Francis Bourgeois and Chris Harris: We Saved a Train, which premieres tonight at 9pm on QUEST.
A Lifelong Dream Realised
The documentary series follows Harris and Bourgeois as they embark on an ambitious mission to restore a diesel locomotive and return it to active service. This project represents the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition for Bourgeois, whose family has deep historical connections to the railway. His great-great-uncle was instrumental in saving the very railway line where this locomotive operated during the 1960s.
"The Scorsese of Trains"
While promoting their new show, Harris offered remarkable praise for his co-star, who was recently announced as one of three new presenters for the upcoming season of The Grand Tour. "If you were going to investigate theatre, you'd want a great director of theatre and if you're going to investigate film, it'd be great to have Scorsese," Harris told the Mirror's Screen Time team. "I've got the Scorsese of trains guiding me through it, his knowledge is off the dial."
Harris emphasized the authenticity of Bourgeois' character, addressing a common question he receives: "The question I get asked the most is 'Is he really like that?' and the answer is yes, yes he is. That's him, this is not an act."
An Unlikely Friendship Blossoms
The pair's friendship began approximately two years ago after collaborating on a YouTube video, and it has flourished during their recent restoration project at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway in Scotland. Bourgeois has personally invested his own money into the initiative, which aims to have the locomotive operational for its inaugural journey to Inverness and Lochalsh.
Beyond Trains: A Story of Connection
Harris insists the series appeals to audiences beyond railway enthusiasts. "This is a show you don't have to like trains to watch," he explained. "The train is incidental. This is about a trip between people that are massive age differences, that on paper shouldn't like each other."
Despite describing himself as "a bit of a curmudgeon" who previously claimed not to want new friends, Harris admitted: "I've sort of found one and I'm rather glad that I opened my mind to it really."
Shared Passion, Different Vehicles
Both presenters recognize their unique perspectives shaped by their respective obsessions. "I think we both view the world through our own prisms of enthusiasm that most normal people don't understand," Harris reflected. "If you are deeply connected to a passion - in this case trains, in my case cars - the world isn't quite the same as it is for a normal person."
He added philosophically: "But maybe we're the winners. Maybe what this show demonstrates is that we're winning because it doesn't matter, because we've always got trains and cars."
Francis Bourgeois and Chris Harris: We Saved a Train begins airing on QUEST from April 7 at 9pm, with new episodes released weekly. The series documents their restoration journey alongside dedicated volunteers, capturing both technical challenges and personal connections formed throughout the process.
